(Kinda Late) Mid-Year Book Freak Out

So... I'm about three weeks late on this but I wanted to do the Mid-Year Book Freak Out tag.

General Stats:

Best Book - The House in the Cerulean Sea

I cannot stop thinking about this book. It is beautifully written and just thinking about it warms my heart. It is about belonging and found families. Love, love, love.

Best Sequel - Act Your Age, Eve Brown

So funny and my favorite of the trilogy. I also got my hands on a signed copy. I listened to the first two on audiobook and decided to buy a paper copy of this one. Now I think I might need to go back and buy the paper copies of the first two.

New release you haven't read yet, but want to - Project Hail Mary

I keep hearing amazing things about this book (I also have The Martian on my TBR). I swear everyone who talks about it mentions how awesome it is. I have not read enough Sci-fi lately, so this would be a perfect jump back in.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year - Under the Whispering Door

Since I discovered TJ Klune with The House in the Cerulean Sea, he has quickly become one of my newest favorite authors. I have this already preordered and can't wait for more of his magical world-building.

Biggest disappointment - Do You Dream of Terra-Two?

This book took me 27 days to read and I was on vacation for the first two weeks of reading it. I slogged through and probably should have DNF'd it, but I also wanted to see where it was headed. Basically, a crew with a mix of young people who have trained for years and some older more experienced astronauts joined on a ship to travel to the far-off planet of Terra-Two in hopes of future colonization. The book was super slow-paced and a little too dark for my taste. To top it all off, I guessed the ending VERY early on. I need to remind myself that it is ok to DNF books that I'm not enjoying!

Biggest surprise - The Black Tides of Heaven

This book is sort of a historical-based fantasy. I picked it up because someone on BookTube recommended it. I devoured it in just a couple days! The setup was fascinating--the people are born without gender and once they grow old enough, can choose which gender they identify with. It centers around a pair of twins and covers decades of their lives. The writing is beautiful and I must read the other books in this series.

Favorite new author - TJ Klune

I am on my third book by TJ Klune (The Extraordinaries #2 - Flash Fire) and cannot get enough of his writing style.

Newest fictional crush - Jane (One Last Stop)

Jane in One Last Stop is such an interesting, kind, tough character. She fights for what she believes in. This book has short sections between chapters where you can see how Jane has positively affected other people's lives. I loved getting to know her throughout this book.

Newest favorite character - Nick Bell (The Extraordinaries)

Nick is a fan-fiction-writing teen who is completely clueless but in the most charming way possible. He has ADHD and that leads him to thoughts and tangents that constantly cracked me up. I also love his relationship with his father and the depiction of grief and loss.

Book that made you cry - The Anthropocene Reviewed

John Green's essays run the gamut from silly to heart-breaking to hopeful. I cried happy tears more than sad tears, but both where there. He writes about grief, depression, and anxiety in ways that I connect with deeply.

Book that made you happy - The Anthropocene Reviewed

Though I cried a lot during this book, I came out of it with a tremendous amount of hope for humanity.

Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received) - The House in the Cerulean Sea

The colors, the font, the illustration... just perfect.

What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

• We Go On Forever by Sarah Govett (for the Burned Books Club)
• ...and then all the books that I have on my physical TBR...

Favorite Book Community Members 

• Madi from Book Browsing Blog
• Spoops from Spoopyhol
• Ro from Wandering Through Worlds
• Kayla from Books and Lala
• Cindy from With Cindy

Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier

Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The publisher allowed me to read this eBook on NetGalley before its publication.

I haven't picked up a graphic novel for years, and Cheer Up was the perfect reintroduction. I love the art style and how diverse the characters are: from the main characters to other people standing in the backgrounds. We follow Annie, who is has been told she needs to join some type of team to improve her college applications, and Bebe, who is trying to get everyone to accept her after her transition. Annie ends up on the cheerleading team where Bebe has been elected captain.

The story is one of friendship and what it's like to grow up. The main characters help each other blossom into more rounded individuals. I enjoyed this book and think it would be the perfect addition to a school library. No matter your background, everyone can understand how difficult it can be to belong while trying to be true to yourself during the four years of high school.

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Pawmistry: Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe with Cats by Megan Lynn Kott

Pawmistry: Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe with Cats by Megan Lynn Kott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a delight full of beautiful illustrations of cats, useful tips, and a whole bunch of whimsy. I now know that my own cat would prefer being called a "bewitching floofer baby" than a pet. There are pages to record the signs you have gleaned from your cat, such as what their toe beans tell us, reading kibble, and more.

I know quite a few cat lovers who would enjoy this quick read. It would be a perfect gift for a new cat parent!

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AfterMath by Emily Barth Isler

Aftermath by Emily Barth Isler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

AfterMath was a quick read that covered some difficult topics without ever feeling sad or depressing. Lucy has moved with her parents to a new town after the death of her little brother. She starts at a school with the class of students who were the victims of a school shooting. The book does a fantastic job of showing how everyone deals with grief differently. Besides Lucy's thoughts, we get snapshots of how her parents, classmates, and teachers are all trying to move on from tragedy. Throughout the book, Lucy thinks about situations in mathematical ways and each chapter starts with a math problem. Together, these provide provide a level of symbolism that is a powerful addition to the plot.

This is also a story of friendship. Lucy struggles with losing touch with her friend from back home and the difficult task of making new friends in a middle school where all the students have been bonded by tragedy.

Though listed as Middle Grade, the topics of this book may be difficult for some readers. Despite the tough topics, I believe that this book would be great for anyone to read: middle schoolers, teachers, and families.

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